Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Berkeley, CA
VS
Montgomery, AL
🏆 Montgomery leads 14 of 23 categories
Berkeley
California
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
118.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$104,716 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
168⚠ High
Population
121,385
Montgomery
Alabama
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$54,166
Violent Crime Index
156⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
199,819 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Berkeley, CA
Pros
Households earn $50,550 more per year on average
More college-educated — 73.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.7 pts lower (5.5%)
Cooler summers — July highs near 74°F vs 94°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $1,280,300
Higher rents — median is $2,067/mo
Cost of living runs 27% higher than Montgomery
Violent crime (638.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Montgomery, AL
Pros
Homes cost $1138k less ($141,900 vs $1,280,300)
Rent averages $1041/mo less ($1,026 vs $2,067)
27% cheaper overall cost of living than Berkeley
7% less violent crime than Berkeley
Commutes run 11 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.8)
Cons
Median income trails Berkeley by $50,550/yr
Violent crime (594.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher unemployment (7.2% vs 5.5%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Berkeley
Median Income
$50,550
$104,716 vs $54,166/yr
Berkeley
Unemployment
1.7 pp lower
5.5% vs 7.2% unemployment
Montgomery
Cost of Living
27% cheaper
COL index 90.8 vs 118.2 (100 = US avg)
Montgomery
Violent Crime
7% lower
594.6 vs 638.8 per 100k
Montgomery
Median Home Value
$1138k less
$141,900 vs $1,280,300
Montgomery
Summer Heat
20.0°F warmer
July avg high 94.2°F vs 74.2°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Berkeley, CA | Montgomery, AL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 118.2⚠ High | 90.8 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $1,280,300⚠ High | $141,900 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,067⚠ High | $1,026 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $104,716 ✓ Higher | $54,166 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.4 min⚠ High | 19.9 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 28.1% ✓ Higher | 6.3% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 200⚠ High | 136⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 168⚠ High | 156⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 249⚠ High | 106⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (110) ✓ Better | B- (93) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.1:1 | 17.6:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 73.8% ✓ Higher | 33.1% |
| High School or Higher | 96.1% ✓ Higher | 87.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Berkeley Unified | Montgomery County |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 58.9°F | 60.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 74.2°F | 94.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 26.1" ✓ Drier | 54.6" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 0.3" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 121,385 | 199,819 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 32.5 | 36.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 43.3% | 53.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 12.2% | 23.7% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 15.9% ✓ More | 15.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Berkeley's cost of living index is 118.2 vs Montgomery's 90.8 (US average = 100).
Montgomery is 27% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Montgomery leads 14 of 23 categories. Berkeley wins 9 and Montgomery wins 14. The right choice depends on your priorities — use the Pros & Cons and full table above to weigh what matters to you.
Whether you're moving from Berkeley to Montgomery or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($1,280,300 vs $141,900 median home), income ($104,716 vs $54,166), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Berkeley, CA and Montgomery, AL are about 2,059 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.